Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-07-01
EARLY JUMPS ON ROSSER.

Jubal A. Early is out in the State
in a card in reply to Gen. Thomas
Il. Rosser's recent card, in which
Rosser said Early should have been
hung for burning Chambersburg.
Gen. Early says: "Rosser has
heretofore shown his utter disre-
gard for the truth in come publica-
tons he has made in regard to some
of the operations of the Army of
Northern Virginia, and especially
those of my command in the Val.
ley, in 1864, and ! have fully dem
onstrated the falsity Of many of his
statements. Having previously
figured extensively as falsifier of
history, he has recently appeared
in another role-that of consumate
ass, and it must be confessed that
he has proved himself an adept in
that character. AS TO his express.
ed opinion IN regard to my conduct
IN having Chambersburg burned,
gentlemen can determine as to how
much weight is to be given to that
opinion when they read an extract
from letter, written by him to a
gentleman in Canada, in 1868,
which will give" The letter
quoted reads thus
BALTIMORE, Nd, Jan. q, '6S.
ColOnet-Enclosed you will lind a
few thoughts on the subject of your
inquiry of the 18TH instant.
j am pleased to serve you
anu my noble friend, General Early
Very truly yours,
THos. l.. RossER,
Major General, G. S. a.
Colonel George 7. Denison.
General Early goes on to say:
81 was shown the original letter,
and from the closing sentence in it,
as compared with Rosser's recent
utterances, discerning public can
estimate how much Importance
should be attached to any opinion
of his on any subject. He now
thinks his noble friend ought to
be hung for the burning OF Cham.
bersburg. Really, what Rosser
thinks or says in regard 10 myself
disturbs me very little. What &C.
tually dlstresses me is to see one
who occupied the position of 4 gen
eral officer in the Confederate army
fall as low as he has fallen. It
seems that a residence of several
years in the Northwest, and the &C
emulation Of considerable proper
ty thereby means best known TO.
hlmselt-has had the effect of con-
vincing him that the South was all
wrong in the struggle she made for
independence and selfgovernment,
and that ii was fortunate that his.
mighty efforts for four years in her
cause failed of success. To those
true and faithful Confederates whO,.
like myself, feel mortified when ones
of our former comrades becomes a
renegade to the cause we fought:
for, have this consolation to offer
we do not stand alone in having.
apostates from our ranks. We
learn that even one of the brightest
of the archangels, the son of the
Morning, who stood around the
throne of the Almighty, rebelIed
against his Creator and carried of
a number of the angels into the re-
bellion, and one of the chosen apos-
ties of the Savior of Mankind be.
trayed his Master with a kiss for
thirty pieces Of silver. This much,
however, is to be SAID in behalf OF
Judas Iscariot-Then he became
aware of the effect of his treacheryy
he had the grace to cast from him
the thirty pieces of silver, the price
OF his treachery and 90 and hang
himself. II some of our renegades
would 60 and do likewise, we might
regard the act as some atOnement
for their apOstasy, ana the most
creditable act they could now per.
form. | have heard it suggested
that Rosser is aspiring to be the
member of Congress from the dis.
trict, of which some of the lower
valley counties constitute the great
er part, and that his recent letter
about the rumored intention OF
Sheridan to ride up the valley was
intended to aid bis aspirations in
that respect"